How is Germany making its forests sustainable and multifunctional – and what lessons can be learned for Ukraine?

The delegation

The study tour took participants to Berlin and Brandenburg from Sep 8-12, 2025. The delegation led by Oleg Bondarenko, Chairman of the Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Use of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament), included stakeholders from Ukrainian politics, administration, science, and forestry, including Oleksandr Matusewych, Ihor Martschnuk, and Volodymyr Buchko, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Environment, the State Forestry Agency, the State Service for Geodesy, Cartography, and Cadastre, the regulatory authority, and various universities and research institutions.

Politics and administration in Berlin

First, the delegation visited the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity (BMLEH) to learn about German forestry policy, the national forest inventory, and the EU's requirements for sustainable forest management. The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) focused on the importance of forests for biodiversity and climate protection. Members of the German Bundestag explained the legal framework for forestry and environmental policy.

Exchange with associations

This was followed by a dialogue with key organizations in the industry. The German Forestry Council (DFWR), the Working Group of German Forest Owners' Associations (AGDW), the German Timber Trade Association (GD Holz), and the German Association of Towns and Municipalities (DStGB) presented their tasks, structures, and current challenges. The discussions highlighted the diversity of interests in the German forestry and timber industry and the close exchange between politics, business, and administration on various topics.

Brandenburg: Practical insight

The visit to Brandenburg was a particular highlight. The local Ministry of Agriculture, Environment, and Consumer Protection presented the administrative structures and reform processes of recent years, while the Brandenburg State Forestry Service explained its goals and special features in forest management. At the Eberswalde Forestry Competence Center (LFE), the focus was on the connection between science and practice. Here, it was shown how research results on the adaptation of forests to climate change are incorporated into political decisions and silvicultural measures.

A highlight was the “Forest Vision 2050” excursion, which gave participants an outlook on the future development of Brandenburg's forests using practical examples.

Research and innovation

The methodology and benefits of the national forest inventory were presented at the Thünen Institute in Eberswalde. This provides the data basis for political decisions and long-term strategies. At the Chorin Forest Office, the focus was on specific issues of forest management: from forest protection measures and sustainable forms of management to the multifunctional use of forests.

Wood industry and markets

At the end of the trip, the focus was on the economic dimension of the forestry sector. At the German Timber Industry Association (HDH), the delegation learned about current developments in the timber trade, the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), and the German Timber Trade Act. In addition, the German Forestry Association (DFV) presented its work and highlighted its role as a professional association between science, practice, and politics.

Oleksii Makeiev, Ambassador of Ukraine to the Federal Republic of Germany, also met with the delegation and exchanged views on the current challenges of the wood industry and markets in the context of EU regulations.

Organizational framework

The study trip was organized as part of the BMLEH's Bilateral Cooperation Program (BKP) with the support of the German Forestry Association (DFV). It is part of the Sustainable Forestry Implementation (SFI) project, which is funded by the BMLEH and implemented by the consortium IAK Agrar Consulting GmbH (lead partner) and unique land use GmbH.